Scott No: -
Serial number: 2022-24
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: October 22nd, 2022
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Liu Jingui
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
12 for Sheet I;
6 for Sheet II (3 sets)
Size of sheet:
174 * 152 mm for Sheet I;
140 * 160 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S: 86 * 125 mm
Size of S/S Stamp: 49 * 72 mm
Perforation of S/S: 13
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Post Printing Works

China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of 2 special stamps and 1 souvenir sheet themed "Zhang Zhongjing" on October 22, 2022. The two stamps are respectively titled "Practicing Medicine in the Yamen" and "Composing Books and Establishing Theories", while the souvenir sheet is titled "Portrait of Zhang Zhongjing". The total face value of the complete stamp set (including the souvenir sheet) is 8.40 yuan. The planned circulation is 7.5 million sets of the stamps and 5.98 million copies of the souvenir sheet.

Zhang Ji, courtesy name Zhongjing, lived approximately from 150 AD to 219 AD. He was a native of Nanyang and was recommended as a "Filial and Incorrupt Official" during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, later holding the official post of Governor of Changsha. His work, Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, integrates medical theories, treatment principles, prescriptions, and medicinal materials into a systematic whole. It pioneered the concept of "treatment based on syndrome differentiation" and laid the foundation for the development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For these contributions, he is revered as the "Sage of Medicine" by later generations. TCM embodies the Chinese nation's concepts of health preservation and practical experience accumulated over thousands of years, standing as a great creation of the Chinese nation and a treasure of ancient Chinese science.

The first stamp, "Practicing Medicine in the Yamen", depicts the scene where Zhang Zhongjing, during his tenure as Governor of Changsha, opened the government office to treat ordinary people. The second stamp, "Composing Books and Establishing Theories", shows a vivid scene of Zhang Zhongjing compiling Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases and conducting medical research while writing. The background of this stamp uses the "Preface to the Baiyunge Edition of Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases" to highlight the theme. The souvenir sheet "Portrait of Zhang Zhongjing" features vigorous and smooth lines for the figure and vivid characterization, portraying Zhang Zhongjing's noble demeanor as a great physician who practiced benevolent medicine to help the people. The background of the souvenir sheet is supplemented with the original text of the "Xiao Chai Hu Tang" (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) prescription, emphasizing the profound and extensive TCM culture.

This set of stamps was designed by Liu Jingui and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Technology Co., Ltd. using multi-color offset printing technology. The entire set of stamps has a soft color tone and an antique and elegant style. The use of TCM-scented ink allows a faint fragrance of Chinese herbal medicines to soothe the senses when appreciating the stamps, making the theme of the stamps more vivid and reflecting the high integration of the form (the small size of the stamps) and content of the stamps.